By Heinrich Domingo

In the eyes of Brillante Mendoza, we see realism. Painted at the backdrop of his films (Serbis, Kaleldo, Kinatay, and others) is the grim reality of the Philippines. In this 2014 movie, he looks into the seldom discussed topics of childbirth, Islamic polygyny, and women. Through an ensemble of outstanding cast, he focuses his camera to the Badjao people living in the southernmost part of the country and their women’s survival in a Muslim community.